steeple
Americannoun
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an ornamental construction, usually ending in a spire, erected on a roof or tower of a church, public building, etc.
-
a tower terminating in such a construction.
-
(loosely) a spire.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a tall ornamental tower that forms the superstructure of a church, temple, etc
-
such a tower with the spire above it
-
any spire or pointed structure
Other Word Forms
- steepled adjective
- steepleless adjective
- steeplelike adjective
- unsteepled adjective
Etymology
Origin of steeple
before 1000; Middle English stepel steeple, tower, Old English stēpel tower. See steep 1, -le
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The simple contour of a chapel, its steeple slightly off-center, stands out from the wall about six inches deep.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025
A motorized unit arriving to plant a flag on a church steeple and take a photo—then bolting immediately.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025
We park with a view of the village church steeple backed by steely limestone peaks of the Pyrenees and lunch at a bar some feet away.
From Salon • Nov. 8, 2025
The earthquake brought down the church steeple and part of the roof.
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2025
And now I can recall the picture of the grey old house of God rising calm before me, of a rook wheeling round the steeple, of a ruddy morning sky beyond.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
